Ball removing device for golf cups



Dec. 29, 1931.

J. c. HANES 1,838,223

BALL REMOVING DEVICE FOR GOLF CUPS Filed Oct. 13, 1950 lli /2 I I c 3: H L l6 /5 6 'I I: l I I INVENTOR.

JAMES C. HA/YES ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 JAMES C. HANES, OfF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA BALL REMOVING DEVICE FOR GOLF CUPS Application filed October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,519.

My invention relates to improvements in a ball removing device for golf cups, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a ball removing device for golf cups which normally remains at the bottom of the cup and which has a handle forming a part of the cylu lindrical portion of the cup which may be raised for lifting the device and the ball therewith. The device has acrowned top so that when it comes flush with the top of the cup the ball will roll off by gravity.

is A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the crown has an opening for receiving a flagpole and in which the device is provided with guides, one of these guides acting as a stop for preventing the device from being entirely removed from the cup. The device keeps the ball in a dry condi ion because it supports it above the ground.

A further object of myinvention is to provide a device of the type described which is extremely simple in construction and which durable and eiiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of 1e device will be particularly pointed out in the claims hereto annexed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanving drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device,

Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention 1 provide a golf cup commonly known as a golf hole which comprises cylinder 1 that is of the reuuired diameter and length. The cylinder is designed. to be placed in the ground 2 (see 15 Figure so that the top 3 of the cylinder comes flush with the surface of the ground.

The cylinder has two guide passages i and 5 fashioned therein for a golf ball removing device new to be described. The golf ball removing device comprises a dish-shaped member having a cylindrical wall 6 designed to slide within the cylinder 1 and a dome-shaped top 7 with an opening 8 in its center. A handle 9 is secured to the wall 6 and is slidably received in the guide 5. The guide has an open top 10 through which the handle 9 projects, and the handle is provided with an enlarged portion 11 (see Figure 3) for permitting it to be grasped readily. It should be noted that when the device is in the bottom of the cup 1 the top of the handle is flush with the edge 3 and the handle itself forms a portion of the wall of the cylinder 1. In this way the top appearance of the cup is not disfigured in any way and the cup can be used in the usual manner.

The guide 4 slidably receives a lug 12 car ried by the wall 6, and this lug strikes a shoulder13 at the top of the guide 4 and limits furthe device 6 to be tilted slightly after the lug 12 strikes the shoulder or stop 13, and this tilting frees the lug from the shoulder and permits the device to be entirely removed from the cup if desired. The reverse is true when assembling the device in the cup. I

The hole 8 permits. the usual flagpole to be disposed in the cup 1, and the flagpole will be received in the opening 8. When the players have reached the green, the flagpole is removed and then the players play for the cup in the usual manner. When a golf ball 14 is received in the cup, it will take the position shown in Figure 2. The player in removing the golf ball merely has to pull the handle 9 by means of gripping the portion 11. and when the dome 7 projects above the rim 3 of the cup the ball will roll off from the dome 7 by gravity. The lug 12 and the shoulder 13 prevent further upward movement of the device. 'The releasing of the handle 9 will permit the device to drop into the position shown in Figure 2 by gravity, and it is now ready for further use.

The purpose of the wall or standard 6 is to provide easy travel for the device in the cylinder 1 and also to keep the ball dry, since the ball is supported above the bottom of the hole 15. Any water can drain into the space beneath the hole 8, and this will leave the upper surface of the dome 7 dry. The device is always in the proper position owing to the stops 16 disposed at the bottom of the cylin- Y der 1 and projecting inwardly. These stops support the ball removing device in normal position. The lifting handle 9 travels in a direction formed by the guide 5 and leaves the inside of the cup mouth 3 with no obstruction-to interfere with the ball dropping into the cup. As already stated, the handle is disposed in the circumference of the cup.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes, and I reserve the right to employ such changes as, may come within the scope of the claims hereto annexed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a golf ball receiving cup, of a golf ball remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a handle forming a part of the inner wall of the cup, said golf ball remover being moved tothe top of the cup when the handle is lifted.

2. The combinat-ionwith a golf ball receiving cup, of a golf ball remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a handle forming a part of the inner wall of the cup, said golf ball remover being moved to the top of the cup when the handle is lifted, said golf ball remover having a domeshaped top.

3. The combination with a golf ball receiving cup, of a golf ball. remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a handle forming a part of the inner wall of the cup, said golf ball remover being moved to the top of the cup when the handle is lifted, said golf ball remover having a domeshaped top with a centrally disposed opening therein;

4. The combination with a golf ball receiving cup, of a golf ball'remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a handle forming a part of the inner wall of the cup, said golf ball remover being moved to the top of the cup when the handle is lifted, alug carried by the golf ball remover, said cup having a guide for the lug and a stop-for limiting further vertical movement of the golfball remover when it reaches the top of the cup.

-5. In combination, a golf ball receiving cuphaving grooves in its wall, a golf ball remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a cylindrical portion slidable in the cup and a dome-shaped top with an opening therein, a handle secured to the golf ball remover and being slidable in one of the grooves, this groove terminating short of the top of the cup, said handle form ing a part of the wall of the cup, and a lug carried by the golf ball remover and being slidable in the other groove, this groove having a stop for limiting the movement of the lug.

6. Incombination, a golf ball receiving cup having grooves in its wall, a golf ball remover normally disposed in the bottom of the cup and having a cylindrical portion slidable in the cup and a dome-shaped top with an opening therein, a handle secured to the golf ball remover and being slidable in one of the grooves, this groove terminating short of the top of the cup, said handle forming a part of the wall of the cup, a lug carried by the golf ball remover and being slidable in the other groove, this groove having a stop for limiting the movement of the lug, and supports projecting inwardly from the bottom of the cup for supporting the golf ball remover.

JAMES C. HANES. 

